“Easton,” she whispered my name with such sincerity. “I’m sorry. I hope he’s going to be okay.”
“It’s going to be a long road, but his recovery looks promising. He’s lucky he’s young.”
“Thank God.” She relaxed into the seat back, and I couldn’t help but admire how beautiful she looked. How much I missed seeing her pretty face and kissing her soft lips.
I reached up and brushed a strand of hair away from her face, and her eyes fluttered closed.
“As for me not calling, I realized after I got to the hospital that I lost my phone. I think I might have left it on the airplane, and I don’t have your number memorized,” I admitted, guilt squeezing through my chest. Had I done the simple task of memorizing those seven digits, things might have not gotten this out of control.
“It’s okay, I understand.” She squeezed my hand, and I smiled in appreciation. “I’m just glad your brother is going to be okay.”
“Me, too.”
“How’s your mom taking all of this?”
I gave her question some thought. “She’s handling it a lot better than I expected. The first couple of days were hard for her, not knowing what was going to happen, but I think it helped that me and my stepdad were with her.”
“She’s lucky to have such a great son like you.”
“Thank you.”
I sat there quietly, appreciating her kindness. After a minute or two, our eyes met, and I couldn’t take not touching her any longer. Not tasting her sweet mouth or loving her sexy body. I needed to replace all the bad with the best thing that ever happened to me—her.
“Lilly,” I rasped, curving my hand around the back of her neck, pulling her face to rest mere inches from mine. “Sunshine, I’ve missed you, and I’m so sorry for leaving you in your time of need.” Leaning in, I brushed my lips a hair’s breadth above hers. Waiting and hoping she’d meet me in a kiss I so desperately craved.
“I’m sorry, too. Sorry for being so stubborn and making you out to be the bad person I know you aren’t.” She lifted her hand to cradle the side of my face. “I’ve missed you . . . so much,” she whispered as her lips made the descent onto mine.
The impact of her soft, warm mouth pressed against mine had my mind reeling and a low growl escaping me. A primal need filtered through my blood, craving the connection with the woman who owned my heart. The one, who once and for all, needed to know that she was mine and there was nothing that could change that.
Without breaking our connection, I wrapped my arm around her waist and carefully pulled her onto my lap. She straddled my hips, and I could feel the heat from between her legs burning hot on me.
“Sunshine,” I pleaded, grasping her hips, trying to find any kind of control. I knew we still had some unresolved issues to discuss, but I needed her more.
“Shh, I’m here, anything you need . . .” She bit my bottom lip, pulling it between her teeth. “I’m not going anywhere.”
Easton laid me on the bed, supporting his weight above me. I reached up and held his face in my hands, gazing lovingly into the eyes of the man that had come to mean a great deal to me.
Barely two weeks ago, I was convinced I had lost him. That it was my destiny to be alone for the remainder of my life. Tyler was my one true love, and a person normally didn’t get that a second time around. With Easton back and my foolish assumption being simply that—a foolish assumption, I’d say we beat the odds.
“Before we go any further, I want you to know something—”
“Not now, Easton. We have plenty of time for talking later.”
“No. Lilly, you need to hear this first. I need you to know.” Meeting his gaze, I witnessed the glimmer of love in his eyes. “No matter what you decide, and no matter what I said, I’m here for you. I will stand beside you one hundred percent. I love you, Lilly, and I hope you know I will do anything for you.”
His words touched me somewhere deep, springing tears to my eyes.
“I don’t deserve you. You know that?”
“Stop talking nonsense.” He pressed a soft kiss to my lips then moved to pecking a trail of warm kisses along the underside of my jaw. “We’ve already been through this before. We all deserve to be happy.”
I nodded, deciding to take his word for it. This was not the time to argue.
Sliding my hands downward, I reached under his shirt and tugged at the hem. Easton climbed off the bed, stood to his full height, and pulled his shirt from his body.
Ten days had been way too long not to have any kind of contact with him—physical or otherwise. I lay there, appraising the beautiful man before me. In my eyes, everything about Easton was perfect. From the tattoos that partially decorated his skin, to his hard chest and defined torso, and to those eyes that drove me wild but brought me comfort each and every time.
I reached for the waistband of his shorts and pulled him closer. Rather than lay above me, he traced the tip of his nose from my rib cage down to the hem of my top, driving the material upward, exposing my needy flesh.
“I’ve missed you. I’ve missed us.” He pressed his lips in the valley between my breasts, grazing his teeth over each hard nipple, slowly inching his lips back down and stopping right above my core.
Heat infiltrated every crevice of my body and a swarm of butterflies took flight low in my belly. Foretaste was an absolute torture. How I had managed without him, even if only for ten days was beyond me.
“Easton.” I let a slow smile build as my fingers raked through his hair. “Please,” I begged unashamedly. This was more than just my needing him, this was the turning point that would bring us back together and seal a bond that could not be broken. Tampered with, but never broken.
“I got you, Sunshine.” With slow torturous hands, Easton unbuttoned and stripped me of my clothes, tossing them haphazardly to the side. “Exquisite,” he murmured while kissing the inside of my thigh before pushing to his feet. “Take your bra off.” I reached behind myself and unhooked the lace garment while he watched. Heat burning the center of his orbs and his lips parted as he stepped out of his cargo shorts. “I need to love you, Lilly,” he urged desperately before settling between my thighs.
My sex pulsed, and my clit throbbed in greedy anticipation. My hands ached, wanting to grab his hips and meet him halfway, but I forced myself to hold my composure. He was taking this slow, and I needed to follow his lead. Up until a moment ago, we had no idea where we stood—together or apart.
Easton lined himself with my entrance, took each of my hands in his, and slid them above my head. I lay caged beneath him, waiting for the second our bodies would connect and become one.
The first thrust was smooth but strong, causing my back to arch in response. The initial feel of him filling me still took a little getting used to. My eyes fell shut, and I took in every sensation I felt from our connection. Easton and I fit perfectly together.
For quite some time, Easton didn’t speak, and neither did I. Instead, we moved together, relishing in each other’s groans of pleasure. He was showing me just how much he loved me. Awakening parts of me I had no idea existed.
He gave equal attention to each of my aching breasts, tugging on my hard nipples with his teeth while sliding in and out of me, teasing a slow burn of pleasure.
“Easton,” I moaned his name, desperate for more.
“I know, Sunshine, I know.”
As he gradually picked up the pace, the tingles increased, creating the familiar coiling sensation that made my sex ache. Raising my hips, needing to meet his thrusts, I wanted nothing more than to chase my orgasm.
I was desperate for it.
I needed it more than the next inhale of breath.
“Fuck, Sunshine,” he growled low, squeezing our fingers tighter together. “Spread your legs wider,” he ordered, and I willingly adjusted my body, instantly feeling him deeper inside me. “You’re squeezing me. You close?” I nodded, but he asked again. “Sunshine, tell me. Are you close? I can’t hold on muc
h longer . . . fuck!” he grumbled, picking up the pace in hopes of reaching his own release. “Tell me,” he growled.
“Yes!” I responded on a loud and drawn out moan. “Fuck, yes! Easton!” He angled his hips, and I was done. Screaming his name, digging my head back into the mattress as my release claimed me seconds before he followed.
We lay there connected, Easton panting into the crook of my neck, mumbling incoherently. I could feel the sweat on my hairline and the stickiness from his skin pressed to mine and I loved every second of it.
I love him.
After a while, our breathing slowed, and he lifted onto his elbows without losing the connection of our bodies.
“Sunshine,” he spoke low and gravelly.
“Hmmm.”
“Is it okay if we just stay like this? I don’t think anyone would mind.”
An unexpected giggle bubbled from my chest, happy that we were headed in the direction of making things right. My mind replayed his words right before he claimed my body and how he would support my decision, no matter the outcome. I toyed with the idea once more, but my decision to hold off was solidified. If I wanted a fighting chance with Easton, I would have to wait and see if things worked out between us. This wasn’t the right time to be bringing a baby into the world—let alone one from my deceased husband.
“As nice as that would be, do you mind if I take a shower?” I kissed his shoulder, my hands roaming the length of his body while I debated asking him to join me or not.
“Of course not. You don’t even need to ask.”
He threw himself to the side and groaned. “I miss you already.” He chuckled. “I’d join you, but I can’t feel my legs, yet.”
We both laughed.
“You rest, I won’t be too long.”
Opening the glass shower door, my heart melted. I couldn’t help but smile at the sight of my shampoo and conditioner still sitting in the same corner where I had left them. I turned the water on, and when steam filled the room, I stepped under the spray.
My toes curled in delight as soon as they touched the hot water. Happiness flowed through me. I had Easton back. He was all mine and wasn’t going anywhere.
Maybe you should tell him just how much he means to you. How much you love him, too.
Easton definitely deserved to know. There was no longer a reason not to express what I truly felt for him. It was time.
“Sunshine,” Easton shouted from the bedroom.
“Yes.”
“Hurry. I need you back in bed.”
I did just that. Still wrapped in a towel, I crawled into bed with him.
“I love you.”
“And I love you.”
He held me close, letting me drift to sleep in the safety of his arms.
“So, what’s this big surprise that you couldn’t wait to tell me about?” I pushed Easton’s coffee toward him, but instead of taking a seat, he looked around the coffee shop.
“Let’s move back over there.” He pointed to an empty table in the back corner.
I nodded, and Easton picked both cups up, careful not to drop the manila envelope tucked under his arm, and followed me over to the corner table. He set the drinks and the envelope down and pulled a chair out for me before taking a seat.
“So. . .” I took a sip of my tea, eyeing him over the rim.
“I talked to my mom earlier,” he started.
“Yeah? How’s she doing?”
“Better. She asked when I was coming home for a visit. Kipp has been asking about me, too. I guess the poor kid misses his big brother.”
“I’m sure he does. Why don’t you go visit him?”
“I am—we are, actually.”
“What?” I stared at him, unblinking.
“I made reservations for us to visit my family in New York. We leave in the morning for ten days.”
“Easton!” I balked. “I’m supposed to meet my mom for a late lunch, we didn’t even pack—”
“Calm down, Sunshine. It’ll be fine,” he said calmly, laying his hand over mine. “You won’t need much. And I’m sure you’ll have enough time to meet with your mother. I’m really glad you reached out to your parents.”
“I am, too. I hated the distance between us. Thankfully, they understood.”
Everything was starting to fall into place, and I couldn’t be any happier. Easton and I were doing great. My family was happy to hear that we were dating and I was taking life one day at a time. That was all I really could do.
“Packing shouldn’t take too long. Maybe grab enough clothes for the first five days, the second half we’ll be spending in the city, but I’m not sure how much of it you’ll get to see since I plan to keep you locked up for most of it.”
I chuckled but stopped midway. “Oh, no! If we are going to the city, you better believe you are showing me around, Mister. I’ve never been, and I refuse to spend my first time in New York holed up in some hotel room.”
“It isn’t a hotel room; it’s the penthouse suite. And the views are absolutely stunning.”
“What? That must have cost you a fortune!”
“Not really. My stepfather cashed in a favor. We’ll get two nights in the penthouse and another two nights in a regular suite, all for the same price.”
“Are you sure you want me to meet your family? I mean, it’s only been two months since your brother’s accident.”
“I’m not going unless you come with me, and unless you want to upset my mother and brother before they even get the chance to meet you . . .”
“You don’t play fair.” I narrowed my eyes and pouted my lips.
“Never said I did. So, what do you say?”
I gave it a second just to tease him. “Yes. I’d love to meet your family.”
“Good. There’s something else I wanted to discuss with you.”
“And what’s that?”
“The paperwork has been finalized. The flower shop is mine.”
I smiled wide. Easton and his Aunt Millie had been discussing selling the flower shop, and I knew he had been toying with the idea of buying it, but he’d never mentioned anything more.
“That’s awesome. Congratulations!” I reached across the table and squeezed his hand.
“Thank you. There’s another thing . . .”
“Oh, what about?”
“How are things with the salon?” He took a sip of his coffee.
My face scrunched in confusion. I thought we were talking about the flower shop, not my sister’s salon.
“Fine. Good, actually. Things should be running pretty smooth from here on out. Why do you ask?”
“Well, since Aunt Millie won’t be at the shop anymore and I can’t run the place by myself, I was hoping you’d want to manage the day-to-day operations.” He held his eyes on mine and smirked. “Be the boss.”
I couldn’t resist matching his smirk, answering playfully, “I like being the boss.”
“I can tell.” He chuckled quietly. “What do you say?”
“Well, there are things we need to discuss first—”
“Like?”
“For starters, what kind of benefits are you offering? Then there’s scheduling. Will the hours be flexible, or will it be a set schedule?”
He licked his lips, and I liked that he knew where I was going with this, even if I was only kidding.
“If you accept employment, I’d offer you a signing bonus.”
I leaned into the table. “What kind of bonus?”
“It’s lucrative, but I’d have to show you . . . privately, of course. I wouldn’t want other prospects to accuse me of playing favorites. I’d offer this bonus exclusively to you.”
I laughed. I laughed so hard that I almost spilled my tea all over myself.
“Never a dull moment.” I took his hand in mine. “I do have one request, though.”
“And what might that be?”
“You provide me a lifetime supply of my favorite lollipop.” I licked my lips suggestively, ta
king our flirty banter just one step further.
“I got your flavor of lollipop, all right. Actually, I don’t think you can get it anywhere else.” He winked, and I almost died right there in the coffee shop.
“Oh. My. God!” I choked. “You really are too much.” I barreled over laughing.
“I know, and you love it.”
“I do. And I love you, and I’d love to work for you.”
“Not work for me, Sunshine. Work with me. I want us to be partners. This flower shop is just as much yours as it is mine.” He slid the manila envelope closer to me. “What do you say? Partners?”
“Easton.” I sighed, appreciating how much he wanted to include me in his life, but partnerships cost money. If this were something he was serious about, I would have to contribute to the cost. “How much?”
“How much what?”
“What would my portion of the sale cost?”
“Nothing.”
“Easton, don’t. If we are going to be partners, we need to do this right. And by doing this right, I have to be responsible for my half of the cost.” I would not budge on this.
“I had a feeling you’d be stubborn about this, so, if that’s the route you want to take, you owe me twenty bucks.”
“What?” I shook my head, confused. “How can you possibly tell me that all I would have to contribute is twenty dollars?”
“Because Aunt Millie only charged me forty.” He laughed. “She said that would cover her entrance fee at bingo. Besides, I already own my grandmother’s half, so if you want a fifty-fifty split straight down the middle, you can pay me the forty dollars, we call it even, and I’ll take you out for a celebratory dinner.” I stared at him wide eyed. Could he be serious? “Oh, but not somewhere too expensive, I’ll only have forty dollars to spend.” He winked, and we both laughed. “Come on, let’s get you home so we can pack.”
As we walked the couple of blocks back to his apartment, I realized I couldn’t have been any more grateful than I was in that moment. My husband might have been gone for barely two years, but I was living proof of how quickly life could change.
Between Him and Us Page 23
